Wire-stretcher.



J. RIEKENS.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 5. I9I5.

Eatented Feb. 19, 1918.

ATTO R N EY WITNESSES ECE;

JOHN RIEKENS, vOF WELLSBURG, IOWA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Application led October 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN Rinnnns, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at `Wells burg, in the county of Grundy and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vire-Stretchers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference, generally, to improvements in wirestretchers.

The invention has more especial reference to a wire stretcher, which maybe readily attached to a fence post and the fence wire then stretchedand secured to the fence post, while the wire stretcher is still engagedwith the post, thus, preventing the accidental slipping of the wire andretaining the same in ataut condition during the securing op eration.

The invention also embraces novel wire gripping means, whereby, anypossibility of slippage will be overcome and the wire effectivelystretched.

Among other aims and objects of the invention may be recited, theprovision of a wire stretcher of the character mentioned with a view tocompactness, and in which the number of parts are few, the constructionsimple, and the cost. of production small.

All of the foregoing together with additional advantageous details andarrangements of parts of the preferred embodiment of my invention willbe clear from the specilic description hereinafter contained when readin connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof,wherein said embodiment of the invention is illustrated for the purposeof facilitating a full understanding of the present improvements.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan of wire stretcher as applied to a fence wire, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the supporting frame, the frame beingshown in engagement with a portion of a fence post.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, and in connection withwhich like reference numerals will indicate the same parts in the seveial views, the construction embodies a substantially L-shaped supportingframe, indicated in its entirety, by the numeral 1, the frame comprisinga post engaging portion 2 and a supporting portion 3 which is secured tothe former by means of rivets 4c or the like, Angular metal pieces theimproved post and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

1916. Serial No. 123,960.

5 are secured to the outer extremity of the portion 2, as at 6 andafford engaging feet therefor, thus, enabling the construction to bereadily engaged with a fence post. To secure the frame 1 upon a fencepost, which have indicated by way of illustration, by

the reference character 7, a chain or other flexible element 8 havinghooks upon the freeends thereof is passed about the post 7 and thenengaged, by means of the hooks, with an eyelet 9 arranged upon the baseportion of one of the engaging feet 5 as shown in Fig. 2. By thisarrangement, it is evident that the frame 1 will be securely maintainedin position at all times and that relative movement of the same will beprevented. A plurality of pulleys 10 are girdled within brackets 11arranged upon either end of the supporting portion 3 of the frame andare adapted to receive thereabout, the wire stretching cable, which willbe presently described. v

`With a view toward providing means whereby the fence wire 12 may bepulled or stretched, there is provided a pulling cable 13, the forwardLend of which has connected thereto a wire engaging arm 14 which isprovided with a clamping` cam 15, where-hy the fence wire 12 may beengaged therebetween and securely held. The remaining portion of thecable is extended to a point in proximity to the supporting portion 3 ofthe frame 1, whereat, it is passed about the outermost pulley 10 and isthen carried diagonally forward about a floating double sheave pulley16, which is held in its forward position by means of a cam clampingelement, similar to the clamp 15, which is engaged with the remainingportion of the fence wire 12. rPhe cable 13 however being arranged aboutone sheave of the pulley 1G is passed rearwardly about the remainingpulley 10 and then rearranged about the second or remaining sheave wheelof the pulley 1G and extended for a distance therebeyond, whereby it maybe readily engaged by the user of the device for pulling vor stretchinga wire.

The operation of the construction may be reviewed as follows:

The feet 5 of the frame 1 are engaged with the fence post 7 to which thewire when stretched is to be secured. The clamping elements 15 and 17are now engaged with the fence wire 12 and a pull imparted about theremaining end of the pulling cable'l, which action will of course, causethe stretching or drawing of the fence wire 12. When the desired tensionhas been attained, that portion of the fence wire adjacent the post maybe secured thereto by# staples or other suitable vfastening means andthe construction then readilyremoved for a subsequent operation. Byproviding a plurality ofclamping elements with which to engage the fencewire 12, it is evident that .slippage of the wire will be practicallyeliminated' and that the fence wire will be held taut during thesecuring operation.

As many changescould be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this inventioncould be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or. shown in the'accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimitingsense. It is also to be understood that the language used. in thefollowing'claims Vis intended to cover all ofthe generic and specificfeatures of the invention .herein described and all statements of thescope of the invention, which as a matter of language, might be said tofall there Copis of chiaV patent may be obtained for ve cents each, byaddressing Washington; D. C.

by, when the remaining-end ofthe cable is pulled, the fence wire will bestretched.

2. A wire stretcher, including a substantially L-shaped frame engageablewith a fence post, a plurality of feet arranged upon securing the frameto the fence post, a plurality of pulleys karranged upon the frame inspaced apart relation, a floating pulley, a wire stretching 'cable'arranged about the frame pulleys and said floating pulley, a wireengaging member connected to one end of'the cable, and a secondwireengaging member connected to the 'floating pulley,-

whereby, when the cable pulled the fence wire will be stretched.

3. A wirev vstretcher including a frame including a. post engagingportion, a transverse Vsupporting portion iXedly mounted upon the outerend of said post engaging portion, the ends of vsaid transversesupporting portionA projecting beyond the sides of said post engagingportion, pulleys mounted upon the ends of said transverse supportingportion,` a." double iloating' pulley, a cable having a clamp upon oneend and passing around all of said pulleys, a clamp connected to saidfloating pulley, lthe projecting ends of said transverse'support- `oneend of the frame to facilitate engagement thereof with the fencepost,'means for ing portion allowing the free movement of said cablewithout interference from said frame. A

In testimony whereof l aiiix my signature in presence yof two witnesses.

` JOHN ainKnNs.

vWitnesses:

D. CLAAssnN, D. J. BEVING.

the Commissionervof Yatents,

